Good documentation DGW.
Good documentation DGW.
..... f5joe
Jim
My Stream on Soundcloud
19th Century Tunes
Playing lately:
1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1
I played it when it was at elderly, it was amazing. It was the first Loar I had ever played and I was hooked. I believe it was in 2004 or 2005 because I played it while I owned my 2003 Gibson Fern before I bought my 2002 Master Model in August of 2006. That off center sunburst is very unique.
'02 Gibson master model #70327 02-01-02
'25 Gibson A-4 Snakehead #82626
'06 Hicks #1 and #2 F-5 still not done
Gibson F-5 Master Model Registry
Finally got to meet up with my buddy Caleb to talk about his Loar, purchased from Harry West some 15 years ago or so. He's an interesting guy with lots of good stories, so I just sat down to hear a bit about it. Hope some of you like this, don't expect any fancy video work. You can probably find some videos of him playing with a former band he was in 'Open Road'.
Cheers.
I actually turned him onto this Loar. Also gave him some advice on how to deal with Harry, an eccentric individual, so the deal would not fall apart. It had the peghead scroll broken off, and actually bound again without the scroll...
Well, you can see I replied before watching the video. He pretty much covers it all. I thought maybe after Harry's death, the peghead would have been repaired, but, that's cool it's still the same. I remember telling Caleb to tell Harry his Dad was a preacher..
I think that is probably a marvelous Loar, they are all so good in that April to July 1923 area.
There's 5 more little vids of our conversation you can find on my channel.
I remember some funny stuff about a friend he brought along with him who almost blew the deal with some behavior, but I guess he didn't want to bring that up !
Thanks for the videos! I always enjoyed Caleb's playing with Open Road.
Shaun Garrity
http://www.youtube.com/user/spgokc78
It was indeed Harry's last Loar that he held onto the longest. He was always proud of the broken and bound headstock. I got to play it many times when Harry lived near me in Granite Quarry. Even with the cracks you knew it had it. Most of the times I played there were rusted strings on it and I would break a few trying to get it up to pitch. There will never be another like Harry West.
Here is something I have never seen. This came in the case of John Paganoni's July 9 Loar mandolin
Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
www.f5journal.com
It was another era, when a player would notice the neck of their mando needed adjusting… and-write Kalamazoo about it… receive truss rod adjustment instructions by post some weeks later… begin forging an appropriate wrench…
Oh, my God, another thing the company will start a lawsuit over!?
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
Friends and Colleagues, it is amazing what retirement will do to one's lifestyle.
This is the first time I have been on the computer since I retired 3 months ago. Sure, a little email and Facebook off my phone, but not Mandocafe, Cleveland Browns forum, Camaro Forum, Ebay, Martin Guitar forum.
It is refreshing, but now I'm back a bit. I have to admit it was partially getting reset up since they took my Corporate phone, laptop and desktop computer. Twenty-five years with Parsons Corp and 16 before that with TVA. I have not missed it a bit.
Here my 73992. Let's start anew
See some of you at Banjothon Saturday
Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
www.f5journal.com
Here is an exceptionally nice July 9, '23 out of the "mid" batch of July 9's.
This is a mandolin that I was honored to procure for a very dear close friend. It has appeared in a few Gruhn/Carter publications "anonymously".
I purchased this for him in the early '80's, and the mandolin has essentially not be in circulation since. This friend passed away last year.
The mandolin was bequeathed to a very good friend of his and mine.
I am posting this for him. If he chooses to chime in good, if not OK, but, I kinda think he wants me to break this ice.
This mandolin is front bound and has a one piece back. It has the glossy French polish finish found on some July 9's.
73747......a real hoss..and shall I say, I am ecstatic to see him receive this.
Last edited by Darryl Wolfe; Jan-05-2016 at 8:47pm.
Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
www.f5journal.com
Congrats and welcome back Darryl! Your input has been missed.
Phil
Darryl, thank you for posting these pics of #73747.
Since our dear, departed friend received this Loar in 1983, it has been a steady visitor to my house. Our friend would call ahead and ask "what should I bring?" ....... and I always answered "bring Lloyd for sure".
Our friend left us almost 16 months ago. I am saddened, honored and humbled to have had this mandolin bequeathed to me. I would dearly love to have him back instead. But, he would want me to be out there playing it and sharing it. So that is what I'll be doing from here forward.
Thanks, Joe
Edit: Shown in blue Paganoni case. Below in its original case.
IMG_8036 by Joe Allen, on Flickr
..... f5joe
Joe,
I share your sentiments regarding "Our Friend". I cannot think of a better place for this instrument to reside. I am happy for you and that the instrument will see a bit more circulation to be enjoyed by others too.
Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
www.f5journal.com
Yep, me too Joe. Really glad you received this special F5, and you are going to share it a bit with the mandolin community. I always enjoyed visiting with the previous owner, and attended IBMA and some other great places with him, Lynn and Jim. We had a blast, and..if you can believe it, he bought me supper!
Best always, Ken
Good on you f5joe!
I understand the dynamic of the "mixed blessing" here, but what a tremendous way to honor the memory of your friend every time you pick up the mandolin to play!
1994 Gibson F5L - Weber signed
"Mandolin brands are a guide, not gospel! I don't drink koolaid and that Emperor is naked!"
"If you wanna get soul Baby, you gots to get the scroll..."
"I would rather play music anyday for the beggar, the thief, and the fool!"
"Perfection is not attainable; but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence" Vince Lombardi
Playing Style: RockMonRoll Desperado Bluegrass Desperado YT Channel
f5joe's wonderful human interest experience reminded me of mandolin picker Mark Miracle of
The Sonoran Dogs and his beloved Carlson signed Flatiron F5 Artist (pre-Gibson). As i recall Mark telling me, when he was a young person, an older man in the neighborhood was the original owner of this Flatiron and became something of a mentor/father figure to Mark as he was developing as a mandolin player. When the gentleman passed away he bequeathed the Flatiron to Mark who not only treasures the instrument, but plays it as his only axe in the Sonoran Dogs bluegrass band and has said he'll never get rid of the mandolin because of it's sentimental value. Not only is it in fairly pristine condition, but Mark let me play it, and I can tell you that it is a true "hoss" of a mandolin!
I love stories like these!
1994 Gibson F5L - Weber signed
"Mandolin brands are a guide, not gospel! I don't drink koolaid and that Emperor is naked!"
"If you wanna get soul Baby, you gots to get the scroll..."
"I would rather play music anyday for the beggar, the thief, and the fool!"
"Perfection is not attainable; but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence" Vince Lombardi
Playing Style: RockMonRoll Desperado Bluegrass Desperado YT Channel
Thank you folks. I appreciate your thoughts.
..... f5joe
Some folks deserve what they get, others get what they deserve!
For whatever reason, I seem to fall into the latter category no matter how hard I try!
Timothy F. Lewis
"If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett
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